First Data’s Transformation Includes Major Strides in Diversity
Programs & Recognition

Company’s Efforts Result in New Awards from DiversityInc in Two Key
Categories

First Data Named a “Top 25 Noteworthy Company” for Diversity Efforts

Also Named One of the “Top 10 Best Companies for Veterans”

April 22, 2016 05:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on its multi-year initiative to create a progressive and
inclusive environment for its employees, First
Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling
technology and solutions, was proud to receive two significant awards
this week from DiversityInc, one of the nation’s leading
diversity-focused publications whose rankings are seen as a benchmark
for excellence in corporate workplace policies. The awards, which
recognized the company for its initiatives to hire, retain and promote
individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, were presented to First
Data at an event this week in New York City.

“A lynchpin of First Data’s transformation has always been the talent
and diversity of our people, and we are proud to be recognized for our
work in cultivating and attracting a workforce that reflects the best in
our industry and our society,” said Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO,
First Data. “These efforts are not only making First Data a better place
to work, but ultimately strengthening our company from the inside out.”

For the second consecutive year, First Data was named one of the Top 25
Noteworthy companies for diversity, a list cultivated from a pool of
more than 1,800 companies. The honor was based on several factors,
including demographics of employees and new hires, promotions into
management positions, access to employee-resource groups, cross-cultural
mentoring, and a strong commitment by senior leadership.

“We saw 23 companies increase their standings on the DiversityInc Top 50
and Specialty Lists in 2016, and more than 1,000 companies submitting
for contention on the list,” said Luke Visconti, DiversityInc’s founder
and CEO. “We are very encouraged by the commitment and dedication to
diversity management shown by these top performing companies.”

Beyond diversity, First Data has strived in recent years to open its
doors as a welcoming home to veterans, military spouses, and members of
their families. In recognition of those efforts, DiversityInc also named
First Data as one of the Top 10 Companies for Veterans, an award that
recognizes companies for understanding the value veterans bring to the
workforce.

First Data is focused on supporting those who served in uniform through
a company-wide military engagement strategy called First Data Salutes,
initially launched in 2014. Since the program’s debut, First Data has
increased the percentage of veteran and military spouse hires from two
percent to 15 percent, and has earned numerous awards and accolades for
its service to the veteran, Guard and Reserve, and military spouse
communities.

First Data was ranked in the “Top 20 Companies” for a second year in a
row in Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets” employers list. The
company also claimed a top 10 spot on the “Top Military Spouse Friendly
Employers” list by Military Spouse magazine and was ranked #1 in
the technology industry on that list. In addition, First Data debuted at
#7 on Monster/Military.com’s “Best Companies for Vets” top ten list.

In addition to these rankings, First Data is also a leading partner of
Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse
University, among many other initiatives in this space, designed to
increase training for men and women transitioning out of service, along
with strengthening and growing the community of veteran-owned business.

As diversity-related issues, and corporate response to them, make
headlines in many states, First Data has been leading from the front.
First Data joined a number of Fortune 500 companies in 2015 in
submitting an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in support
of same-sex marriage and, underscoring the belief that employees should
be able to bring their whole selves to work, recently strongly opposed a
discriminatory religious freedom bill in its headquarters state of
Georgia.

Inside the company, First Data formed an affinity group, called UNITY,
designed to create a more inclusive workplace and support LGBT employees
around the world. The company also rewrote its policies to include
providing coverage benefits for domestic partners and the inclusion of
gender identity in its anti-discrimination policies. First Data also
amended its medical plan to allow for gender transition coverage. For
its efforts, First Data has earned a perfect score two years in a row on
the Corporate Equality Index survey conducted by the Human Rights
Campaign.

In addition to these efforts, First Data has established five other
employee resource groups, or ERGs: the Asian American Leadership
Council, Hispanic and Latino Leadership Council, Black Leadership
Council, Women's Leadership Council, and Young Professionals (YoPro).

More information about First Data’s diversity policies and programs can
be found in the “Diversity at First Data” section of the company’s
website: FirstData.com

About First Data

First Data (NYSE: FDC) is a global leader in commerce-enabling
technology and solutions, serving approximately six million business
locations and 4,000 financial institutions in 118 countries around the
world. The company’s 24,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping
companies, from start-ups to the world’s largest corporations, conduct
commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,500
transactions per second and $1.9 trillion per year.